Shooting the Cook

Shooting the Cook is a memoir written by David Pritchard, a prominent British television producer known for his extensive work with chef Keith Floyd. Published in 2009 by HarperCollins, the book emerged from the decades-long professional and personal relationship between the author and the charismatic, often chaotic celebrity chef. It serves as both a chronicle of their global culinary adventures and a candid look at the logistical challenges of producing the groundbreaking travel-cooking shows that defined Floyd’s television career.

The narrative style is marked by a blend of affection and frustration, reflecting the temperamental nature of the star. Pritchard sought to provide an unfiltered perspective on what occurred behind the camera, detailing the improvisational and sometimes precarious nature of television production in the 1980s and 1990s. The work was received as a nostalgic, albeit gritty, account of a bygone era in British broadcasting, capturing the genuine chemistry and frequent frictions that fueled the success of their collaborative projects.